Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva 1995

scottreiner

scottreiner

scott reiner
On opening the bottle all I got was heat, and by that I mean alcohol. Yes, there were some other flavors, but they were utterly dominated. With time the alcohol subsided, only to be supplemented by a LOT of acidity. Now I love acidic wines Chianti should be acidic and really require acid for enjoyment. But it has to be in balance, and here it was not. There were some lovely fruit notes and a tinge of barnyard, but you had to search for them. Again, with time the acidity subsided, but I not sure if that was because I simply got used to it
 
The '95 Rancia Riserva was one of my best bottles last year. Levi said that there was some bottle variation with that one. Haven't had the regular CC Riserva though.
 
originally posted by scottreiner:
i have always preferred the rancia.
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You know, I have had some beautiful bottles of rancia but I've had more that I just didn't think were worth it. Have you noticed variation in these?
Best, Jim
 
again, not enough sample data. enough to say that i prefer the rancia to the ccr, but not enough i suppose to have experienced notable bottle variation.

rancia is, i believe, a vineyard designation. are there any differences in the production of the wine, compared to the standard ccr, that would potentially result in increased bottle variation?
 
I drank a 2001 Rancia last week. I didn't like the wine at all a few years ago, it was blocky and more than a little new oak flavor.

It was much better this week, still a dark fruited, concentrated wine, but some nuance and layers are showing up. I have hope for a few remaining bottles. These seem to be a completely different style of wine then the Montevertine wines.
 
originally posted by scottreiner:
given the choice, i would always choose montevertine over any felsina.
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I am reaching the same conclusion.
But I've had some sublime Felsina Fontalloro.
 
originally posted by Marc D:
originally posted by scottreiner:
given the choice, i would always choose montevertine over any felsina.
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I am reaching the same conclusion.
But I've had some sublime Felsina Fontalloro.
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hmmm. the fontalloro has always seemed somewhat 'modern' to me. perhaps it's the oak?
 
The CC Riserva is the extra-oaky wine made specifically for the North American market. I try to avoid. Is it still produced at Felsina? i thought it was discontinued in the late '90s.

I have had good luck with Fontalloros and Rancias from 1996 and earlier, ultimately decided the '97s were OK, and have been holding on to some '99s to see how they turn out. The recent basic CCs have been too oaky to enjoy on release, and I have quit buying the wines (I agree with Marc about the '01 Rancia's evolution thus far).

Choosing between Montevertine and Felsina is easy.
 
Careful, Scott. Insufficient Fontalloro obeisance was one of the major precursors to my falling out with Luca.
 
originally posted by Scott Kraft:
originally posted by Bwood:

Choosing between Montevertine and Felsina is easy.
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+1 but I wish the Montevertine were more readily available.
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Same here.

And I wish several more wineries in the region were making wine like Montevertine. Wait, maybe there are several, and I just don't know about them.

Any recs?
 
In the region as a whole, I return to my oft-made recommendation for Poderi Sanguineto I e II. Not "like" Montevertine, but you'll recognize it as real wine. And I must also specify the reds, for I did not care for the white that showed up in our market.
 
I agree with Thor about the Sanguineto wines. Also i have really enjoyed the chiants of Buondonno (C-in-C). They are pure and elegant, something i liken to the Montevertine style. In terms of aged or ageworthy chianti i really love the mid 90's and earlier stuff of Castell'in Villa. And the wines of Le Boncie (le Trame) i love year in and year out. Maybe a bit more "gutsy" than the Montevertine but i believe it is the location in Castelnuovo Berardenga (warmer than Radda).
 
ditto on Le Boncie and Castell'in Villa. They have of late re-released some '96 Castell'in Villa in the New York market, and it can be had for a song!
 
originally posted by scottreiner:
They have of late re-released some '96 Castell'in Villa in the New York market, and it can be had for a song!
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Singing it, I mean, drinking one now: with raw red pepper, cooked red beets, buttered toast, and a rare rib steak, and the wine is just splendid. It's minerally and zippy (but not too sharp) and very cherry. Better than the previous bottle, which was a little tired.
 
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